If
the problem is ovulation, medication is the first option most couples
consider for infertility treatment, because it has relatively low
risk and is less expensive than the more invasive procedures. Fertility
drugs can be prescribed to stimulate ovulation in women, but they
can also be prescribed to increase sperm counts in men with abnormal
hormone levels. Drugs used to stimulate ovulation in women who
experience anovulation (don’t ovulate) increase the risk
of multiple births. This, in turn, increases the risk for the children
being born with disabilities, preterm birth, and complications
in during pregnancy and delivery as well. Drugs may also be used
to induce “super ovulation,” or the release of multiple
eggs in order to optimize the environment for insemination procedures.

The most commonly prescribed ovulation drugs include Clomiphene
citrate, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), human chorionic gonadotropin
(hCG), and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG). Clomiphene is administered
in tablets; the rest of the drugs are administered through a series
of injections. Most of these drugs have the same potential side
effects, such as multiple births, mood swings, breast tenderness,
miscarriage and preterm labor, ovarian cysts and depression.

Not all infertile women are candidates for fertility drugs. It
may take several tests, and some trials, to determine the right
drug for you. You can expect the process to take some time, and
sex may have to be specifically timed in order to achieve conception.